Collapsible anchor



Nov. 8, 1966 G. WILLIAMS 3,

COLLAPSIBLE ANCHOR Filed Dec. 7, 1964 HEW INVENTOR.

HOMER GLENN WILLIAMS MM%Q ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,283,736 COLLAPSIBLE ANCHUR Homer Glenn Williams, Independence, Mo., assignor of one-half to Louis A. Gauert, Kansas, City, Mo. Filed Dec. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 416,354 7 Claims. (Cl. 114-208) This invention relates to anchors for boats and the like, and more particularly to an anchor which has a plurality of flukes which may be collapsed from an extended position to an inward position so as to permit the anchor to be freed from rocks, logs or other obstructions in which the anchor may become fouled.

It is well known that anchors having a plurality of flukes extending radially outwardly from a lower end portion of a shank have advantages in engaging on the bottom of a body of water or on objects on the bottom such as rocks, logs and the like to retain the anchor and thereby hold a boat connected thereto. Some difiiculties are also produced as, for example, when the anchor is caught it may be difiicult to free same and to raise the anchor. Also, when thrown or in catching onto objects, portions of the anchor may be subjected to impacts or stresses. Also, such anchors can require substantial space during storage and transportation.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a collapsible anchor which overcomes the abovementioned difliculties; to provide such an anchor having a shank with a plurality of flukes pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end and a locking member cooperating with portions of the flukes for retaining same substantially in selected collapsed or extended positions; to provide such an anchor that is capable of being suspended on the end of a cable with a latch cable or trip line connected to the locking member for readily releasing the locking member from engagement with the flukes and thereby freeing the flukes for pivotal movement on the shank; to provide such an anchor with a relatively open structure around moving parts so that water may flow therethrough to prevent the structure being clogged or jammed by grass, mud or the like; to provide such an anchor wherein the flukes are pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of the shank and swingable to a collapsed position wherein the flukes lie alongside of the shank also to a substantially extended radial position and to a second collapsed position wherein the flukes extend downwardly generally parallel to the shank; to provide such a structure wherein the flukes have inner ends or noses with a plurality. of angularly related faces adapted to cooperate with the locking member to hold the flukes in selected respective position; to provide such a structure wherein the locking member has a rib or bead adjacent and below the lower points of engagement of the noses of the flukes with the locking member to prevent accidental release movement of the locking member; to provide such a structure wherein the locking member is biased to a locking position with cooperative stop means to limit the movement; and to provide a collapsible anchor that is compact, economical to manufacture, and eflicient and positive in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an anchor embodying the invention with flukes in extended operative position and fragmentarily illustrating the anchor cable and operating cable.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the anchor with the flukes in extended operative position.

3,283,736 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the anchor with the flukes in folded collapsed position alongside the shank.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the anchor with the flukes in collapsed extended position below the shank.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the anchor taken on the line 55, FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66, FIG. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates an anchor which includes an elongated shank 2 preferably having an enlarged portion 3 at an upper or leading end with a bail 4 thereon, adapted to be secured to an anchor line or cable 5. It is preferred that the bail and shank be integral and of a structure suitable to be made of metal and by a casting process. The trailing or lower end portion of the shank has an enlarged generally cylindrical portion 6 from which depends a plurality of ears 7 on which are mounted flukes 8, as later described.

In the structure illustrated, the ears 7 are arranged in a plurality of pairs 9 with the ears of the respective pairs spaced apart as at 10 to receive the inner end portions 11 of the respective flukes 8 therebetween. In the structure illustrated, the pairs 9 of ears are diametrically opposed and said ears have outer edges 12 that extend downwardly and outwardly relative to the cylindrical portion 6 of the shank, the ears terminating in bottom edges 13, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The pairs of ears have aligned bores 14 which register with bores 15 in the inner portions 11 of the flukes and pivot pins 16 extend through said bores to pivotally mount the respective flukes on the respective pairs of ears. It is preferred that the pins 16 be tubular with slotted end portions to resiliently engage in the bores 14 to hold the pins assembled in the ears.

A locking member 17 is normally positioned between the inner ends of the flukes 8 to hold same in selected position. The locking member is suitably connected to a trip line or latch cable 18 or the like which extends to the boat and is manipulated to actuate the locking member. In the structure illustrated, the shank 2 has a longitudinal bore 19 and loosely and slidable therein is a latch member rod 20 that extends above the upper or lead end surface 21 of the anchor shank and has an eye 22 at the upper end outwardly of the shank. The rod has a suitable stop portion 23 to engage a stop on the shank to limit movement downwardly relative to the shank. In the structure illustrated, the stop surfaces are the lower end 23 of the eye engaged by the upper surface 21 of the shank. A counterbore 24 preferably extends upwardly from a lower surface 25 of the enlarged cylindrical portion 6 of the shank whereby the upper end 26 of a spring 27 sleeved on the rod is positioned in the counterbore with its upper end engaging a shoulder 28 formed by the counterbore. In the illustrated structure, the locking member is generally cylindrical in shape and the inner ends of the ears 7 form ribs that are bored out to permit sliding movement of the locking member 17 therein and form guide edges 29 to maintain a locking member substantially centered. However, the fit is loose so as to permit some limited lateral movement and also to provide a loose sliding fit for a small annular rib or bead 30 in the lower portion of the locking member which cooperates with the flukes 8 as later described. The lower end of the spring 27 engages the upper end surface 31 of the locking member so that the spring biases the locking member downwardly with the movement limited by the stop engagement of the portions 23 and 21 of the rod and shank respectively.

The flukes 8 each have inner ends or noses 32 provided with faces 33, 34 and 35 that are in angled relationship. The face 35 is substantially the bottom of the inner end portion 11 of the fluke when positioned in radially extended arrangement as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in that position the faces 34 extend from a nose point 36 slightly upwardly and outwardly whereby the inclination as shown in FIG. 2 provides slight clearance between the upper portion of the faces 34 and the locking member, while the point 36 being below the horizontal plane through the axes of the pins 16 bears against the side surface 37 of the locking member and downward force on the outer ends 33 of the flukes tends to increase the force or biting action between the points 36 and the locking member 17. The surfaces 33 are inclined upwardly and outwardly as, for example, substantially 130 included angle between the surfaces 34 and 33. Also, the surfaces 33 have substantially the same radial spacing from the axes of the pins 16 as the surfaces 34. The

flukes 8 have arm portions 39 that extend outwarly from the upper portion of the inner portions 11 in an arcuate form and terminate in enlarged end portions 40 having end points 38, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the end portions 40 providing greater gripping area for the respective flukes. The arm portions 39 are provided with depending ribs 41 for increased strength in a lightweight structure, the inner ends of the ribs 41 blending into the surfaces 35 of the inner portions of the flukes.

When the flukes are in radially outwardly extending position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, there are openings between the ears for flow of water between the flukes 17 and the bottom of the shank portion 6 tending to keep dirt and the like from collecting. When the flukes are engaged with an obstruction, movement of water and the boat and variation in tension on the cable results in some slight pivotal movement of the respective fluke on its pin 16. This results in a variation in the engagement of the point 36 with the surface 37 of the locking member 17 and the movement tends to work the locking member upwardly toward a fluke releasing position. In 0perative position, the rib or bead 30 is positioned immediately below the edge or points 36 so that even with such variation in pressure the small rib serves as a stop that prevents the movement of the flukes from moving the locking member upwardly, the rib remaining below the points .36 until the locking member is intentionally released by pull on the trip line 18.

In using a structure constructed and assembled as described, the locking member 17 may be pulled upwardly, compressing the spring 27 to a position as illustrated in FIG. 3, and then the flukes folded to a position alongside the shank. The locking member, on being released, engages the top portion of the flukes as at 42 which is inwardly spaced from the pivot pins 16 thereby providing a pressure that tends to rotate the flukes inwardly against the shank, holding them in the position illustrated in FIG. 3. Upon raising of the locking member 17 from the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the flukes may be swung outwardly until the surfaces 33 of opposed flukes are parallel, and then on release of the locking member it will move between said faces and hold the flukes in a position generally upwardly and outwardly at approximately a 45-degree angle from the shank. The locking member 17 may be pulled upwardly and held while the flukes are allowed to pivot outwardly. Then, by placing the flukes 8 and the lower ends 13 of the ears 7 on a flat surface, the flukes will assume the position illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the locking member may be released and moved by the spring 22 to a position between the faces 34 and wherein the rib 30 is slightly below the points 36 of the flukes. In this position, the flukes are held in radially outwardly extending position. When the flukes are engaged with an obstruction in use, a pull on the cable or trip line 18 will raise the locking member 17 compressing the spring 27 to release the flukes 8, permitting them to pivot downwardly into the position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein they are generally parallel to the shank and extending downwardly thereof. In this position, the anchor may be easily disengaged from the obstruction formerly engaged by the flukes and raised. The surfaces 35 in the downwardly collapsed position of the flukes are spaced from the locking member 17 as shown in FIG. 4 to permit some pivotal movement of the flukes. This aids in effecting release from an obstruction. The flukes cannot be moved back to the radially extended position from either collapsed position until the locking member is again raised or moved from fluke locking position.

It is to be understood that While I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

1. A collapsible anchor comprising,

(a) an elongate shank having a longitudinally extending bore,

(b) a plurality of flukes pivotally mounted on said shank near the lower end thereof and swingable from an extended radial position to a collapsed position in which they extend downwardly generally parallel to the shank,

(c) said flukes each having a nose point at its inner end with angularly related faces extending therefrom,

(d) and a locking member movable longitudinally of said shank from a position between inner end portions of the flukes where it is engaged by the fluke nose points to a release position above said fluke inner ends,

(c) said flukes presenting one of said angularly related faces to the locking member when the flukes are in extended position wherein said one face cooperates with said locking member to retain said flukes in radial extended position,

(f) said locking member having an annular bead thereon positioned under the nose edges when the flukes are in extended position for resisting upward releasing movement of said locking member.

2. A collapsible anchor comprising,

(a) an elongate shank having a longitudinally extending bore,

(b) a plurality of flukes pivotally mounted on said shank near the lower end thereof and swingable between a collapsed position in which they extend upwardly alongside of the shank to an extended radial position and to a collapsed position in which they extend downwardly generally parallel to the shank,

(c) said flukes each having a nose point at its inner end with angularly related faces extending therefrom,

(d) and a locking member movable longitudinally of said shank and movable from a position between inner end portions of the flukes where it is engaged by the fluke nose points to a release position above said fluke inner ends,

(c) said flukes presenting one of said angularly related faces to the locking member when the flukes are in extended position wherein the nose edges engage the locking member adjacent the lower end thereof and present another of the faces to the locking member when swung to a collapsed position and in each position said fluke faces cooperate with the locking member to prevent movement of the flukes to another position until the locking member is moved to fluke releasing position,

(f) said locking member having an annular head thereon positioned under the nose edges when the flukes are in extended position,

(g) resilient means urging the locking member downwardly,

(h) and stop members connected to the shank and locking member cooperating to limit downward movement of the locking member.

3. A collapsible anchor comprising,

(a) an elongate shank having a longitudinal bore with an enlarged counterbore extending therein from a lower end,

(b) a line connector at the upper end of said shank,

(c) a plurality of spaced pairs of ears at said lower end of said shank and depending therefrom, said pairs of ears being in opposed relation,

(d) a fluke for each pair of ears and having inner ends between the respective pair,

(e) means pivotally mounting the inner ends of the flukes on the respective pairs of ears whereby said flukes extend generally outwardly from said ears, said flukes being swingable between folded positions in which they extend upwardly generally alongside the shank to an extended radial position and to collapsed positions in which they extend downwardly generally parallel to the shank,

(f) noses on the inner ends of the flukes with the noses of opposed flukes being spaced apart,

(g) a locking member slidable between inner noses of the flukes and including a rod portion extending through said longitudinal bore of the shank with an upper end adapted to be connected to a release line,

(h) means resiliently urging the locking member dovimwardly between the fluke noses,

(i) stop means connected to the locking member and shank for limiting downward movement of the locking member beyond a locking position,

(3') a plurality of faces on said fluke noses in angled relationship with one of said faces of each fluke being substantially parallel to and engaging the locking member when said flukes are in radial extended position with said face terminating in a nose edge at its lower end that engages said locking member in response to downward pressure on the flukes whereby the locking member prevents collapsing movement of said flukes,

(k) said locking member having an annular outwardly extending bead immediately below the nose edge engaging said edge to prevent upward movement of the locking member until pulled up by a release line.

4. A collapsible anchor comprising,

(a) an elongate shank having a longitudinal bore with an enlarged counterbore extending therein from a lower end,

(b) a line connector at the upper end of said shank,

(c) a plurality of spaced pairs of mounting portions at said lower end of said shank, said pairs of mounting portions being in opposed relation,

(d) a fluke for each pair of mounting portions and having inner ends between the respective pair,

(e) means pivotally mounting the inner ends of the flukes on the respective pairs of mounting portions whereby said flukes extend generally outwardly from said ears, said flukes being swingable between folded positions in which they extend upwardly generally alongside the shank to an extended radial position and to collapsed positions in which they extend downwardly generally parallel to the shank,

(f) noses on the inner ends of the flukes with the noses of opposed flukes being spaced apart,

(g) a locking member slidable between inner noses of the flukes and including a rod portion extending through said longitudinal bore of the shank with an upper end adapted to be connected to a release line,

(h) means resiliently urging the locking member downwardly between the fluke noses,

(i) stop means connected to the locking member and shank for limiting downward movement of the locking member beyond a locking position,

(j) a plurality of faces on said fluke noses in angled relation with one of said faces of each fluke being substantially parallel to and engaging the locking member when the flukes are in radial extended position with said face terminating in a nose edge at its lower end that engages said locking member in response to downward pressure on the flukes whereby the locking member prevents collapsing movement of said flukes,

(k) another of said faces on the fluke noses being presented to the locking member when the flukes are swung to a collapsed position in which they extend downwardly generally parallel to the shank with said other fluke nose faces cooperating with the locking member to prevent movement of the flukes to another position until the locking member is moved to fluke releasing position.

5. An anchor as set forth in claim 2 wherein the shank has a longitudinal bore and the locking member has a rod connected thereto and extending through the bore and terminating in an eye adapted to be connected to a release line, and the resilient means is sleeved on the rod.

6. An anchor as set forth in claim 3 wherein the faces in angled relation at the noses of the flukes are positioned to lie substantially parallel and in close proximity to the locking member when the flukes are in selected collapsed positions whereby the flukes are movable: to the radially extending position only on disengagement movement of the locking member from the fluke noses.

7. An anchor as set forth in claim 6 wherein the resilient means is a coil spring sleeved on the rod and engaging the shank and locking member to resiliently urge the locking member to fluke locking position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,851,983 9/1958 Hrivnyak 1l4208 3,082,729 3/1963 Chard 114-208 3,138,134 6/1964 Botine 114-208 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE ANCHOR COMPRISING, (A) AN ELONGATE SHANK HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BORE, (B) A PLURALITY OF FLUKES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHANK NEAR THE LOWER END THEREOF AND SWINGABLE FROM AND EXTENDED RADIAL POSITION TO A COLLAPSED POSITION IN WHICH THE EXTEND DOWNWARDLY GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE SHANK, (C) SAID FLUKES EACH HAVING A NOSE POINT AT ITS INNER END WITH ANGULARLY RELATED FACES EXTENDING THEREFROM, (D) AND A LOCKING MEMBER MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SHANK FROM A POSITION BETWEEN INNER END PORTIONS OF THE FLUKES WHERE IT IS ENGAGED BY THE FLUKE NOSE POINTS TO A RELEASE POSITION ABOVE SAID FLUKE INNER ENDS, (E) SAID FLUKES PRESENTING ONE OF SAID ANGULARLY RELATED FACES TO THE LOCKING MEMBER WHEN THE FLUKES ARE IN EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN SAID ONE FACE COOPERATES WITH SAID LOCKING MEMBER TO RETAIN SAID FLUKES IN RADIAL EXTENDED POSITION, (F) SAID LOCKING MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR BEAD THEREON POSITIONED UNDER THE NOSE EDGES WHEN THE FLUKES ARE IN EXTENDED POSITION FOR RESISTING UPWARD RELEASING MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCKING MEMBER. 